Report No. 30

 

Report No. 30

Cleared the gate.

I got a chance to add a few more feet last weekend.

Through the Iris.

Lower left is the first turnout for El Rico siding. It will have a capacity of two cars.

Updated map.

 

Report No. 29

 NEW TRACK FROM ZACH JCT. TOWARDS EL RICO SIDING

Its been two and a half years since track has been laid, but its time to move towards Melones.

Starting from Zach Jct. I will lay track to El Rico siding, then make the McArdles switch, (switchback 1). 

After that comes the bridge over the Stanislaus river and Melones Station/mill on the other side.

Here we go!

Here we see the Captain inspecting the new work area with Extra No. 8 dropping off supplys.

Here is where the new track will start from.

                               

              

First new section of track is down.

                 

Gate clearance test is performed with Extra No. 8.

                  

Grading work started for El Rico siding.

              

Updated map. Work area is on the top in yellow.

             

Still working on the Jamestown Office.

More to come.

Report No. 28

 All is well here. Ran three trains last weekend and no major maitenance needed.

Still working on the Jamestown general office details.

I was invited by Gerald Hanford for a day trip with 8 of the local train guys and two from the Bay Area to Tilden Park above Berkeley/Orinda to ride the Redwood Valley Railway. He has worked there on and off since 1968.

What an awesome day we had on this 70 year old, 15 inch guage railway, with tours of all the shops, engine houses and car barns.  They took us out on our own train to cover every foot of track on this extensive line. They even offered us to engineer our train on the back tracks. I had two runs, it felt really good have a throttle back in my hand. 

We were also treated by our gracious hosts with lunch, dinner and fun conversations with the crews.

A VERY BIG THANKS to to the RVRy crews, especially Gerald Hanford, Ellen, Dan and Dave for a railfan dream day.

YOU MUST GO VIST THIS UNIQUE RAILWAY IN THE HEART OF THE BAY AREA!

https://redwood-valley-railway.business.site/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redwood_Valley_Railway

Report No. 27

 Two weeks off, and it rains almost the whole time. The rain finally stopped, so I got a chance to clean things up Sunday 1/2/22. For the most part eveything is ok. A slide in the Tuttletown loop needed repair and the turntable pit wall got wet and swelled causing the turntable to bind in spots. Monday I ran a work and a regular mixed train. The next day I ran two mixed trains. I did not have time to make a video. Maybe next time.

Thanks for checking in on the Angels Branch.

Work train with No.8 heading out from Jamestown to check and repair the right of way.

Work train stopped before entering Table Mountain Cut.

Work train stopped at Tuttletown and returned to Jamestown. No major issues were found.

Report No. 26

Hi, 

all is well.

 Last run was in October. Hopefully I will get to run during my Christmas vacation.

Shay No.10 got its sound system upgraded to My Loco Sound. I LOVE IT.

I have again been the North Pole Santa for the Polar Express this year at Railtown.

Here is a video I took last weekend of the Polar Express coming in pulled by No.28.

Merry Christmas and Happy New year.

John

Report No. 25

Everyone is staying healthy so far and everything is running well.

First run in 30 days due to rain and freezing weather.

Last weekend Feb. 6-7, I ran two trains each day. 

Return trip on Sunday had an unusual two flats to drop off at the Marble Spur.

                                                

                                                  Here they are all loaded up, ready to go.

Here is the switch list for the next time I run, train 21W to pick them up.

Alternated Engines No. 9 and 10 each day and used No.8 for yard duites.

Still slowly working on the General Office. Lots of trim and roof details to do.

Report No. 24

 11-28-20 Train 22 West from Tuttletown to Jamestown.

The JMRI program picked a nice train of three flats to leave Tuttletown with today. First flat with Terok Nor model ST-DS9 self sealing extruder buckets shipping out for refubishment. See Report No. 11, Dec. 20, 2018 when they shipped in for the mines in the area.

Second flat returning to Jamestown after dropping off mine beams.

Third is going to Marble Spur to pick up Columbia marble blocks for a new building in San Francisco.

Also a box will get picked up at Omega Siding with low grade ore bags from Omega Mine and going to Stockton for processing.

Waiting at Tuttletown, ready to leave.

Here we go!

After No. 9 is spotted at the Roundhouse, No. 8 takes on setting out the train.

First flat SRy 49 to yard.

Flat CCL 1701 to Freight Depot.

Box SRy 20 to Main siding to await next west bound  freight.

Time to turn the coaches, No. 6 on the turntable.

No. 5 gets its turn.

Thanks for checking in on the Angels Branch.

Report No.23

 

Report No.23

Trains still running every other weekend. Its starting to cool off now, so I will run more often.

Upgraded the area around Omega and Marble Spur from dirt and leaves to Pea gravel.

Finished the Mormon Creek bridge last month.

Something big,(deer or bear), has been tromping on the Woods Creek trestle, so some reglueing is nessesary this weekend.

Also the Blue Oak has been bombing it for 3 weeks.

Researched and drew up the first Sierra Ry. General Office located on the Jamestown yard between the Freight Depot and the Hotel Nevills.

Started making the walls/siding 10/17/20 out of Dollar Tree foam board.

Here is what it looks like today.

Will post more photos as it moves along.

10-27-20

11-1-20

12-21-20

Almost ready for paint and window glass.

SOME HISTORY

April 1997 in front of the Roundhouse.

No.3 and No.28 stand in for a recreation of the Golden Spike Celebration for the cover of the Black Irish Band.

Band, local actors and train crew.

 I'm top right of 28s stack. I think I was firing 28 that day.

Report No.22

Not much new to report.

I spent some time in June and July on a locomotive and cars for a G scale track the local guys built in the Railtown Freight Depot. I have to letter a few more to complete it.

July only had two weekends of trains running and last weekend I ran both days. Too hot to run this weekend. 105 F.  Maybe next weekend.

 I did make 4 crossbucks for the Angels Branch though. Here is the one for the Jamestown Road crossing.

                                                            SOME HISTORY

Me running No.28, I think 2001ish.

Report No.21

Trains are running most weekends.
No track added yet.
Working to make another video.
More details Added.

New Engine

Added a Bachmann Heisler to the roundhouse as Sierra Ry No.9. See details on the refit in

Locomotive Roster.

Marble Spur

Scratch built a stiff leg derrick, fake marble blocks and slabs for the Marble Spur. Base for derrick is real marble from one of the quarries in Columbia.

Made a removable block flat load. All flats have a magnet to hold it in place.

Patterson Mine

Bashed a small coal tower for an ore shoot at Patterson Mine.

New Buildings

Dave Connery gave me some nice houses from his now decomissioned South West Side Lumber Co. Top one is next to Peppermint Creek. Another at Tuttletown.

Tuttletown

Finally added the station sign to the Tuttletown shed. Reworked a Bachmann hand cart on right.

Saloon

Back behind the Sierra Ry. General Office was a saloon. I had a Rite Aide birdhouse that works with a name change from General Store to Saloon.

SOME HISTORY

8-14-93

Yea, thats me driving and the famous RR photographer Al Rose in the, as famous, Sierra Ry No.8

Model T.   

Al Orozco manning the turntable. I'd like to make that some day, when I find a Model T kit to bash.

Report No.20

More work done this weekend. Ballasted the turntable yard and filled in the pit. Made roundhouse doors.